Instrument Cluster

Does anyone out there know of companies/individuals that can check, overhaul/restore Mk1 Golf instrument clusters?
Any pointers welcomed.
Cheers

Someone might, but most people seem to do it themselves. What's the issue?

I bought a secondhand replacement and it works fine. The only issue is that the night driving cluster illumination is very dim, but I can live with that. The real reason for the post is that i have now acquired another spare. Not sure if this is ok so I thought that using this spare and the original unit that I removed I might find someone who could check, restore and test such that I know I have a spare unit thats in good order.
They are getting like rocking horse Sh….!! to obtain so I thought it a good idea to have a back up.

They are???

In my experience in trying to find the one over the years thats right for mine. If they are not then It bypassed me

I have a spare, its the wrong type for my car but grounding out the oil pressure switch stopped it buzzing. I restored the original (with the original miles on it), so I was kinda hanging on to the spare and might sell it now I no longer need it.

I remember when they were £10-20…..obviously they're a bit more now. Tried to get a sense of the prices but not many on eBay to compare to…..

hantsgolf said

I bought a secondhand replacement and it works fine. The only issue is that the night driving cluster illumination is very dim, but I can live with that. The real reason for the post is that i have now acquired another spare. Not sure if this is ok so I thought that using this spare and the original unit that I removed I might find someone who could check, restore and test such that I know I have a spare unit thats in good order.
They are getting like rocking horse Sh….!! to obtain so I thought it a good idea to have a back up.

Remove the cluster.
On the light bar remove the heat welds and remove the Green Cloudy film. Replace the cover and Use JB-Weld quick to re-glue the Light bar to the cluster, you can also clean the interior or use strips of Shiny aluminum foil to make it more reflective….

Find a Saturn SL1, Honda Accord, Isuzu Trooper or Truck The ones with the removable warning lamps in the sockets… You need the sockets…

Remove the warning lamps sockets on the car take 6-or-10….

Go to a Autoparts store and find the same car as in Isuzu or what and buy the warning indicators not the illumination lamps…. why the difference is 2watts versus 3-4 Watts (more Brighter) Get the LL long life version…Super Bright LEDS that are convex lensed work too, but you have to observe polarity on them.  

The issue with the LEDS is that your cluster roller switch doesn't like to place well as the LEDS will go full bright to off with little variance.

Thats a handy tip I will take a look at it
Many thanks

paul_c said

I have a spare, its the wrong type for my car but grounding out the oil pressure switch stopped it buzzing. I restored the original (with the original miles on it), so I was kinda hanging on to the spare and might sell it now I no longer need it.

I remember when they were £10-20…..obviously they're a bit more now. Tried to get a sense of the prices but not many on eBay to compare to…..

My oil pressure warning buzzers some times but I had put it down to oil sump surge. I believe that you can get an anti surge sump but I aint really looked too much. I think its a sump with a perforated partition. The second hand clusters vary but some are well over £100. suppose it depends on the car model and condition

crazyquiff was mentioning on Facebook a few days ago that his firm is doing a refurb service on clocks.

It may be worth trying him. 

hantsgolf said

My oil pressure warning buzzers some times but I had put it down to oil sump surge. I believe that you can get an anti surge sump but I aint really looked too much. I think its a sump with a perforated partition. The second hand clusters vary but some are well over £100. suppose it depends on the car model and condition

Its because later cars had 2 oil pressure switches - 0.3 bar and 1.8 bar or something like that. And the 1.8 bar was expected at 2500rpm. If you put the later cluster into an older car with just one oil pressure switch, it causes the buzzing above 2500rpm which never goes away until the ignition is turned off!

I was waiting for answers from others to see what can be gleaned from them.

During my restoration, I completely overhauled my instrument panel from lights and indications because many of the bulbs had gone and I also changed the printed circuit.

As a later 1.5 GL, I also had the oil buzzer system which was not working.

I believe that you can address this yourself with patience, you need your car as a test bed to test the unit.

It is handy having two units, to cannibalise and make one unit out of them.

Please see my project at the bottom of page 11 on the website with photos.

https://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&type=misc&id=projects%2Fyour-mk1-golfs_2%2Fgarythegolf&start=200

Hope this helps

That was one hell of a project to tackle.well done.
I noticed that your car had a VAG sticker for Peter Cooper, Southampton, is that where you are based?

I live in Romsey at the moment.

Sent from my H3113 using Tapatalk

Small world I am in Fawley/Ashlett Creek

Been here 38 years, was relocating to Worthing to be closer to family this year. Currently deferred until Covid over, maybe next year if not sooner.

Sent from my H3113 using Tapatalk

Lived down here in the forest for 27 years. moved to Ashley Creek after stints in Singapore and Angola, Sheffield is original home

If you click on the second link below on the website, you will find my potted history.

I have been Golf mad since 78 ish with my first Mk1.

My avatar here looks very similar to the Mk1 I have today.